Barbara Gordon

Barbara Gordon is a superhero in the w:DC ComicsUniverse. In 1966 she was introduced as Batgirl; since 1989 she has been known as Oracle after a bad spinal injury inflicted by teh Jikerforced her into a wheelchair. After the relanch of all dc titles known as the New 52 Barbara Gordon has once again taken up the Cape and Cowl as "Batgirl", her recovery yet to be fully explained.

No use masquerading any longer, Dad. Because I want to run for congress in your place! You admitted you don’t want the job! And it’s the only way I can really fight crime — prevent it — through prison reform!

I have to find another path. Divine my own future. One uniquely mine. Not a page from someone else's book. Not a fate that begins and ends on page one.

Batgirl: Year One 1

Dad thinks I'm too short. My Sensei thinks I'm too "girly". But just like the principles of jujitsu— I use their expectations against them. That will be their weakness. Not mine. Let them all underestimate me. Let them think they have the upper hand over the little girl. Let them relax while the adrenaline leaks out of their systems. Let them believe they're closing their grips on a shrinking violet. And when their guard is down and their pride is rising... let me kick their butts up around their ears.

Batgirl: Year One 1

Barbara: I'm strong enough and smart enough for anything you throw at me.

Batman: Then answer one question. Why?

Barbara: Well, I... I...

Batman: I thought so. This isn't a game. Time to go home, little girl.

Barbara: Is that it? I fail the final because I can't tell you in fifty words or less why I want to do this? You may have all the tools of the trade, but you don't have a monopoly on wanting to help. I'll tell you why, you big scary goon... because I can.

Look around you, guys. This whole situation defies reason. But I’m not letting anyone run me out of my hometown. I didn’t let the Joker do it and I’m damn sure not going to let a bunch of bureaucrats do it!

A little over a year has passed since my old life ended, since I died and was reborn. The shadows remain, but only to give contrast to the light. I am no longer a distaff impersonation of someone else — I’m me, more me than I have ever been. I embrace it, and the light, with a deep, continuing joy.

Y'know, a lot of the time it's like you Batguys want me to hold onto the past because you can't get over it. Understand— I have. I have a new life now. One I like — one that fulfils me. It's not the same as the one I had before, but it's good. Maybe even better.

Birds of Prey 8

Barbara: Okay, Savant... When you spoke to me in those different languages, your French grammar was spotty, and your Chinese was that of a sporadic tourist — but your Greek was flawless. [to her computer] Insert the following search parameters borders: American, extortion and Athens or surrounding area accent and dialect.

Barbara [narration]: I could've told you, Savant. When it comes to research... never bet against a former librarian. [the computer screen shows a match for Savant's identity]

Birds of Prey 59

You've escaped, and you think the world's a huge place, and you can hide anywhere, right? I'm here to tell you... that world? I own it. Your world is getting smaller by the second. And you can't hide anywhere from me. Every database, every security cam, and every police band has my fingerprints on it. Every moment you're out the noose pulls tighter. And Savant, just in case it's not crystal clear by now... Nobody messes with my partner.

Birds of Prey 61

Barbara: My junior prom, I had braces, no curves at all to speak of, and still got a date, somehow. I thought things were turning around. 'Til my date told me his cop dad had been ordered by my cop dad to make him ask me out. To this day I break out in hives when I see people do a box step. Oh. I didn't have a mother growing up, right? So I once stole some lipstick my father would never have let me buy... then cried all night thinking he'd find out and throw me in jail. Braces, skinny as a rail, and red hair. You don't know what hormone-addled guys say to girls with red hair. It sticks with you.

Oh, here's a good one. First real supervillain I ever fought? I had a crush on him. Killer Moth. He had this amazing deep voice, like he was the principal and you'd been bad. I had a crush on Killer Moth. Not even Nightwing knows about that. By the time I'd met Robin — sweet, flirting Robin — I'd started to fill out. The suit gave me a little of Batman's confidence, like I'd stolen it. And he was so like the jocks who'd made my life miserable... I really enjoyed putting him in his place, putting him down a little bit. It felt like revenge.

And I was the wrong age, see? Too young for the JLA, too old to be a Titan. But it would've been nice to be asked. For a long time, I tried to convince myself that Power Girl was stupid— that she didn't deserve her powers. Just plain petty resentment over the fact that no guy could take his eyes off her. Is that pathetic, or what? I know it was unfair. I tried to make it up to her later, but... It didn't work out.

After... After I was shot. I made a promise that no one would see me cry. That was wrong of me. I should've let my friends in. I thought I could do everything myself.

Helena: Barbara... what is it you're trying to do, here?

Barbara: Telling you every secret that I have that's mine to give. Letting you know I've got a whole lifetime of mistakes of my own. I want to be even. ... I'm sorry for what I did, Helena. By the time I knew you — knew what you were really like — I'd already made a mess of things. You were right to be mad. If we don't see each other again, I wanted you to know... you were right to be mad. And I'm sorry.